ForestEthics : Protect Forests and Our Climate

New Campaign Aims to Formalize Strong Public Sentiment Against Oil Tanker Traffic On B.C. Coast Into Permanent Official Ban

Thu, 11 Mar 2010

Vancouver, British Columbia � A new public outreach campaign by ForestEthics is asking residents in Vancouver Quadra and North Vancouver to encourage their local MPs to enforce a permanent tanker ban to protect the North coast and help stop the construction of the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline. Over 72% of British Columbians already oppose oil tanker traffic on BC's north coast, but many do not realize that there is no permanent ban.

"If tanker traffic is permitted, it's not a question of if an oil spill will occur, but when, where and how large," said Nikki Skuce, Senior Energy Campaigner at ForestEthics. "The time to act is now: the proposed new Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline would carry dirty oil from Alberta's tar sands to Kitimat, where over 200 tankers a year would ply through the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest to Asian markets."

Between January 1999 and July 2009, there were over 1,200 reported shipping related incidents on the coast of BC. As we approach the anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, it's a reminder of how one accident could destroy the coast for generations.

"The Federal government is in a position to protect our fragile coast from catastrophic oil spills, such as the Exxon Valdez, by making the current moratorium on oil tanker traffic permanent on the North coast," added Ms. Skuce. "We are encouraging all parties to take leadership and put in place a permanent ban on oil tankers for BC's north coast."

Canvassers are reaching out to residents in ridings in the Lower Mainland where past elections have been close with materials that read: "What if you could have stopped the Exxon Valdez oil spill?" IThis outreach work is part of a larger initiative to encourage climate action and more investment in a green energy economy federally.

In BC, ForestEthics has launched tarsandsfreecoast.ca, which includes an online petition directed at sitting MPs, including Vancouver Quadra's Joyce Murray and North Vancouver's Andrew Saxton.

Slipping through the cracks

Fri, 05 Mar 2010

Download the .pdf report >>

Canada's Great Bear Rainforest is a global ecological treasure, dense with life and known for its cathedral-like old growth forests, concentrations of grizzly bear, salmon, wolves and the rare white 'spirit' bear. This rugged landscape, stretching along coastal British Columbia, represents 25% of the world's remaining intact temperate rainforest.

Building on the landmark 2006 Great Bear Rainforest Agreements to create protected areas on about a third of the landbase and implement new, 'lighter-touch' logging regulations under Ecosystem-based Management, the Province of British Columbia, First Nations, the forest industry and environmental groups reached a subsequent Agreement in March 2009. At the centre of the new Agreement is a commitment by all parties to move over the next five years towards the overall goals of Ecosystem-Based Management - maintaining ecological integrity and achieving high levels of human well-being. Ecological integrity is to be maintained by limiting risk to both ecosystems and to "focal" species, defined as species that need special management attention. In practice, this approach protects a portion of each type of ecosystem and of the habitat of each focal species in areas designated for lighter-touch logging through the EBM planning process.

As part of the five-year transition period, a set of 'lighter touch' (or transitional) logging requirements was developed in 2009, along with commitments to develop a more stringent set of regulations by March 2014. Commitments were also made to ensure that focal species habitat is at least being managed to maintain viable populations during this period.

The purpose of this report is to take a closer look at the focal species of the Great Bear Rainforest, and to evaluate progress on key government commitments to protect focal species. Recommendations include expedited completion of additional conservation measures, as well as measures to ensure that no crucial habitat is being logged in the interim.

GBR_species_report_March_5_2010.pdf

Canada's AvaTAR Sands ad in Variety Magazine

Thu, 04 Mar 2010

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From the Globe and Mail article, "Environmentalists back Avatar for Oscars," by Martin Mittelstaedt:

The pitch to make Alberta�s oil sands an example of life imitating art is appearing in a $20,000 (U.S.) advertisement this morning in a special Oscar edition of Variety. More than 50 environmental and native groups from eight countries have placed the full-page ad, an effort to try to convince Hollywood movers and shakers that what is going on in Alberta isn�t too far off the mark from the film�s fictional planet, Pandora, the source of �unobtainium,� the metal worth wrecking a planet.

Read the full article here >>

AVATARSANDS_Variety_Final_WEB.pdf

The Tyee -- An Avatar-Inspired Future for British Columbia

Wed, 24 Feb 2010

Since shattering box office records and baptizing millions into the cult of 3D, Avatar has sparked new pop psychology phenomena like, "Post-Avatar Depression" and the "Avatar blues." Audiences are so engrossed by the 3D beauty of Pandora (the planet on which the story takes place) that they experience feelings of depression when faced with the stark realities of real life outside the theatre.

Unless our provincial government can write a new ending for B.C.'s own real life Avatar story, we feel that British Columbians may be susceptible to the Avatar blues. Especially when they realize that our province is in danger of losing its own natural wealth because of one dimensional policy thinking.

Pandora is incredibly rich with plants and animals and so is British Columbia. We are home to 76 per cent of our nation's bird species, 70 per cent of its freshwater fish, 60 per cent of its evergreen trees, and thousands of other animals and plants that rival the weird and wonderful wildlife of Avatar: wolves that fish for salmon, white bears that inhabit ancient rainforest valleys, and even a slug -- the dromedary jumping slug -- that can twist its body off the ground to escape predators.

Read more...

Fortune 500 Fuel Announcements Rock Canadian Tar Sands Industry

Tue, 16 Feb 2010

Canadian headlines leading up to Vancouver�s Winter Olympics were dominated by the news that Whole Foods has rejected Canada�s Tar Sands and Bed, Bath & Beyond has requested cleaner fuel from its transportation carriers. In collaboration with ForestEthics, both businesses have developed new fuel policies aiming to reduce consumption of high-carbon fuels such as oil from the tar sands.

The FinancialTimes broke the story on February 11 in its article �Suppliers of oil sands fuel shunned�: �the decisions...underline how industry is moving to fill the void left by inaction at Copenhagen and the failure of the US Congress to limit carbon emissions.�

The Toronto Star said, that the announcements �mark a turning point in environmental activism against synthetic crude from Alberta, as climate campaigners work company by company to discourage consumption of Canadian energy..� The Guardian UK, the London Free Press, Macleans, the Calgary Sun, Fast Company, Treehugger, and the Canadian Press all weighed in, and Canada�s largest papers made space for editorials here, here, and here.

ForestEthics launched its US Tar Sands campaign in July 2009, mailing letters to more than a hundred Fortune 500 companies. The strong response from these two has forced industry representatives and the Canadian government to take notice of our efforts.

Government Response

Canadian Environment Minister Jim Prentice replied to the news in a Calgary Herald article. "The oilsands, at the end of the day, are an essential part of the overall supply-demand balance in North America," Prentice said. "But they do have to be developed in an environmentally responsible way. Industry in particular is going to have to tell its story and explain the real facts."

CBC News -- Corporate Oilsands Opposition Mounts

Wed, 10 Feb 2010

Two major U.S. retailers and an influential British shareholder group have rebuked Alberta's oilsands by avoiding suppliers who use oilsands-derived fuel, and putting pressure on energy titans.

Whole Foods Market, a U.S.-based grocery chain that caters to high-end, health conscious consumers, recently moved to stop using any fuel sourced from Alberta oilsands in its supply chain.

Since January, Whole Foods has been able to ensure that only fuels derived from U.S.-based crude oil are being use in the supply chains at 10 of the firm's 11 North American distribution centres.

Read more...

PRESS RELEASE: US FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES - WHOLE FOODS AND BED, BATH & BEYOND - REJECT TAR SANDS OIL FROM THEIR TRANSPORTATION FUEL

Wed, 10 Feb 2010

High-resolution images and b-roll available

Major US grocery chain Whole Foods Market today announced that it will no longer buy transportation fuel linked to Canada's Tar Sands and has already switched suppliers in favour of a less dirty fuel source. Bed Bath & Beyond, a home accessories retailer, also released a new policy encouraging transportation providers to avoid high impact fuels such as those from refineries using Tar Sands.

These are the first corporate responses to ForestEthics United States-based Tar Sands campaign, which launched six months ago with a letter to Fortune 500 companies warning that continued use of transportation fuels from Canada's Tar Sands puts their brands at risk.

"Here is a clear sign that corporate America is starting to turn its back on dirty oil from the Tar Sands," said Nikki Skuce of ForestEthics, a North American environmental group known for convincing Victoria's Secret to stop sourcing its paper from Canada's endangered forests. "This is yet another example of the world embracing cleaner energy while Canada is expanding, investing in and heavily promoting Tar Sands oil."

Whole Foods, which has hundreds of outlets across the United States, was able to track its supply chain for transportation fuels and found Tar Sands was being used in its fuel supply. The total vehicle miles driven by Whole Foods' internal fleet each year is approximately 21,615,000. Fuel moved to a new Tar Sands free supplier accounts for about 10 per cent of that amount.

"The issue here is that major US retailers want to do right by their increasingly green-minded consumers and protect their brands," added Skuce.

According to Whole Food's new policy, "Whole Foods Market is committed to working towards the elimination where possible of its use of fuels produced by refineries that use feedstock from Canada's Tar Sands. This decision has already led to a change in the fuel Whole Foods Market uses for one of its distribution centers. "

According to Bed Bath & Beyond's new policy, "Of current and particular concern, in light of this policy statement and these objectives, are fuels produced by refineries taking feedstocks from the Canadian Tar Sands. Fuels from these refineries are deemed to have higher than normal GHG footprints and environmental and social impacts. We will be following up with our service providers on this issue, through our bid process and those that we have update meetings with to continue to remind them of our position and concern."

Toronto Star -- 2 U.S. firms won't use tar sands oil

Wed, 10 Feb 2010

From the Toronto Star:

"Canada�s controversial tar sands industry took its first retail blow Wednesday as two Fortune 500 companies announced plans to eliminate the high-carbon Alberta fuel from its supply chain.

The U.S.-based firms Whole Foods Market Inc. and Bed, Bath and Beyond Inc. both unveiled new fuel policies designed to wean themselves off �higher-than-normal greenhouse gas footprints� inherent in feedstock from the Alberta tar sands.

The decisions are not expected to seriously hamper the southbound flow of Alberta oil, which represents a fifth of all U.S. energy imports.

But they mark a turning point in environmental activism against synthetic crude from Alberta, as climate campaigners work company by company to discourage consumption of Canadian energy."

Read the full article >>

Financial Times -- Suppliers of oil sands fuel shunned

Wed, 10 Feb 2010

From the Financial Times:

"Two big US companies have decided to avoid suppliers that source fuel from Canada's oil sands to curb their carbon footprints.

The decisions by Whole Foods Market, an organic grocery chain, and Bed Bath & Beyond, a household goods company, underline how industry is moving to fill the void left by inaction at Copenhagen and the failure of the US Congress to limit carbon emissions.

Both companies are responding to ForestEthics, a non-governmental organisation that last year began campaigning to lead the US corporate sector away from oil sands fuel, which has a higher carbon content than conventional crude oil."

Read the full article >>

REPORT: A New Climate for Conservation

Thu, 28 Jan 2010

Download the full report as a .pdf here >>

Humanity faces two urgent and related challenges: the rapidly escalating loss of biodiversity and the predicted impacts of global climate change. This new report by senior scientist Dr. Jim Pojar identifies a comprehensive solution to both of these threats: a biodiversity and climate action strategy to help prevent the release of greenhouse gases, to ensure sufficient intact habitats to support healthy numbers of wild species, and to help plants and animals adapt to climate change impacts. This strategy should be anchored by a policy of maintaining intact forest ecosystems such that approximately 50% of B.C.�s land base is managed with conservation as the priority goal.

Global climate change is already having an impact in British Columbia and these effects will escalate in the coming decades. Annual temperatures are generally expected to increase by an average of 3 to 5�C. Winters are expected to be warmer and wetter, while summers will be wetter in the north and drier in the south of the province.

The most effective response to these changes is to preserve intact, functional ecosystems. Natural ecosystems are innately more resilient to the impacts of climate change than are fragmented, disturbed or degraded ecosystems. Intact systems are better able to regenerate after disturbances, to resist or recover from outbreaks of pests or diseases and to adapt to changes in temperature and available water supply. (Continued below media kit...)

A New Climate for Conservation Media Kit

Click here to download the full report as a .pdf >>

If you have Flash installed, click here to view the full report online >>

Click here to download the executive summary of the report as a .pdf >>

Click here to read the press release >>

Click here to download the media backgrounder as a .pdf >>

Click here to download the endorsed letter to B.C. >>

(...Continued from above media kit)

Intact, connected natural landscapes also help to pave the way for adaptation to occur by making it possible for plant and animal species to move to more hospitable habitats.

Further, intact ecosystems, especially forests and their soils, capture and store carbon dioxide. An estimated 18 billion tones of C02 are stored in B.C.�s forests. Deforestation releases carbon dioxide. Logging discharges more C02 into the atmosphere than any other single activity in B.C. Avoided deforestation thus prevents increased greenhouse gas emissions. Restoration of deforested landscapes can increase the capacity for carbon capture and storage and needs to be pursued with increased vigour in the province.

Finally and importantly, human well being depends on the vital, life-supporting goods and services (e.g., clean air, clean water, productive soils, soil and water conservation, flood control and many other benefits) inherent in natural ecosystems.

There are economic benefits to this strategy. Pilot projects in California are generating revenues from the sale of carbon credits for improved forest management and avoided deforestation.

Existing parks and protected areas will be the �arks� of survival and recovery for B.C.�s variety of wild species. However, they are not large or numerous enough to do the job on their own. B.C.�s system of conservation lands needs to be significantly enhanced by new conservation land use designations that make the protection of intact ecosystems a priority.

Download the full report as a .pdf >>

Or, if you have Flash installed, view it online >>

Globe and Mail -- B.C. eco groups call for 50 per cent land conservation

Wed, 27 Jan 2010

A coalition of environmental groups is calling on the B.C. government to conserve 50 per cent of the province's land base to fight climate change.

Seven B.C.-based groups, including the David Suzuki Foundation, ForestEthics and West Coast Environmental Law Society, are preparing to release a report Thursday that concludes a 50-per-cent conservation target gives plants and animals the opportunity to survive and adapt to the ravages of climate change.

The report is the work of B.C. ecologist and forester Dr. Jim Pojar, who has studied the B.C. ecosystem for more than 30 years.

SEATTLE PASSES �DO NOT MAIL� JUNK MAIL RESOLUTION

Mon, 25 Jan 2010

* High Resolution Photos and B-Roll Available

SEATTLE - Today, thee Seattle City Council passed a resolution calling on the state of Washington to create a Do Not Mail Registry giving its citizens the choice to stop receiving unwanted junk mail.

Introduced by City Council President Richard Conlin, the Council approved the resolution by an 8-1 vote.

The non-binding resolution follows a similar resolution passed in San Francisco and suggests that American lawmakers are becoming more assertive in representing Americans on consumer and environmental issues. According to a 2007 Zogby poll, 89% of Americans support the creation of a Do Not Mail Registry.

"Seattle once again finds itself at the forefront of efforts to apply common sense to the concerns of ordinary citizens in the 21st Century," said ForestEthics Executive Director Todd Paglia. "Americans seem to agree on less and less, but almost all of us want to stop junk mail. With this vote, Seattle is standing up for its citizens, for environmental protection, and for forests."

The resolution contains a provision directing the Seattle Public Utility to evaluate all existing junk mail opt-out services so that the city can promote the most effective one. The SPU's findings will be reported by June 30, 2010, and will help consumers nationwide make sense of an increasingly crowded-and not always well-intentioned-junk mail "reduction" scene.

A Do Not Mail Registry, similar to the 2003 Do Not Call Registry that gave citizens the choice not to receive telemarketing calls, would allow citizens to opt out of commercial junk mail. Though the direct mail industry has opposed similar legislation in the past by characterizing Do Not Mail as a "ban" on junk mail, a registry would allow Americans to continue to receive direct mail if they so choose.

Bills calling for Do Not Mail registries have been defeated in more than 20 states due to pressure from the junk mail industry and the US Postal Service.

Every year 100 million trees are logged to produce the 100 billion pieces of junk mail Americans receive. Junk mail's production generates the carbon emissions of more than 9 million cars. U.S. junk mail accounts for 30% of all the mail delivered in the world, though 44% of it goes to landfills unopened.

In an interview given Sunday to Seattle NPR affiliate KPLU, Conlin discussed the cost benefits of the resolution: "From the city's perspective, it becomes garbage that we have to dispose of, and we have to pay for disposing of it. And even if it's recycled, recycling still isn't as good as not having it in the waste stream at all."

More than 110,000 Americans have signed ForestEthics' petition at donotmail.org calling for the creation of a national Do Not Mail Registry.

Vancouver Sun -- Oilsands Trouble in B.C.

Thu, 21 Jan 2010

Debate about the always-controversial oilsands is shifting to B.C. with plans under way for a pipeline to transport the resource from northern Alberta to a port in Kitimat, B.C. for potential tanker shipment to markets both in the U.S. and Asia.

The project, by Enbridge Inc., is called the Northern Gateway Project. It proposes a 1,170-kilometre multi-billion-dollar pipeline by 2015 that would create 4,000 jobs during a three-year construction phase, plus long-term operational jobs � and, according to Enbridge's website, �hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues over the life of the project.�

Both from an economic and policy perspective, it's considered crucial. That's because such a pipeline would give Canada more options for selling the black stuff as pressure mounts from environmentalists urging the Americans to curtail their purchase of polluting products.

Read more....

Save the 'Bou ads running at bus stops in Ontario

Mon, 23 Nov 2009

Our ad, running at bus stops in Ontario, calls on Ontario's Premier McGuinty to save woodland caribou in Ontario's Boreal Forest. An image of the ad is below. The ad copy says:

"If Ontario's caribou could lobby McGuinty, they would.

Without your help, caribou will be wiped out of Ontario's forests. Be their voice. Sign the petition."

Take Action: Sign the petition to Save the 'Bou >>

Moms against climate change video featured in The Vancouver Sun

Mon, 16 Nov 2009

The following is an excerpt from an article which appears in The Vancouver Sun, written by Barbara Yaffe:

"Environmentalists are turning up heat on Canadian politicians heading to a Dec. 6 climate change conference in Copenhagen -- by targeting moms.

The new campaign, Moms Against Climate Change, features a gut-punching staged video, filmed in Toronto.

It shows masses of youngsters protesting against climate change, beaten back by burly baton-wielding riot police.

It also features a website (takeactiononclimatechange.com), inviting parents to post their kids' photos on a virtual wall, asking: "If our children knew the facts we do, they'd take action. Shouldn't you?"

Once the climate change conference gets under way in two weeks, the activists intend to project the photo images on walls near the Copenhagen proceedings and Parliament Hill."

Read the full article >>

View the video PSA: